Case with deployable structure

ABSTRACT

Case including a plate ( 12 ) to which a lid ( 13 ) is attached so as to be able to pivot between a retracted position and a raised position that is virtually perpendicular to the plate, and an unfoldable structure ( 14 ) that has a first portion that is attached to the upper surface of the plate and a second portion that is attached to the inside surface of the lid. The attachment of the cover to the plate is advantageously carried out by attachment elements ( 122, 132 ) that are assembled by simple interlocking. Members ( 131, 124, 134 ) are arranged to ensure that the lid ( 13 ) has a stable position when it is in its raised position. The plate ( 12 ) is advantageously mounted on a basket ( 11 ) so as to be able to slide relative to the basket.

This invention relates to a case that is equipped with a structure that can be folded and unfolded in the space.

PRIOR ART

An unfoldable structure that comprises a foldable sheet that has several elements that can be deployed in the space by forming at least one plane that is parallel to the sheet in the folded state is known by EP 0771229. In the known embodiment, the foldable sheet is attached both to the bottom of a case and inside a lid that is attached to the case and can be retracted on the top of the case. The decor thus is folded inside the case by the single retraction of the lid, and it is deployed in the space by the simple raising of the lid.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A first objective of this invention is to produce a new case that can be molded with the attachment means of the lid that can be raised.

A second objective is to produce a new case that combines and integrates a container for various objects with a decor structure that can be unfolded in the space.

The case according to the invention is distinguished by the characteristics that are defined in the claims.

Several sample embodiments of the invention are described in detail below using the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A and 1B show front and rear perspective views of a case according to a first embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 2A and 2B show front and rear views of the case of FIG. 1 with a lid in raised position;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the case that is shown in FIG. 2;

FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate two sample embodiments for attaching the lid;

FIGS. 5A and 5B show front and rear perspective views of a case according to a second embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 6A and 6B show front and rear views of the case of FIG. 5 with a raised lid;

FIGS. 7A and 7B show front and rear views of the case of FIG. 5 with a raised lid and an open basket;

FIGS. 8A and 8B illustrate a variant of the case that is shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7.

In these drawings, the same reference symbols designate identical, similar or equivalent elements.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, the representation of a first sample embodiment of a case according to the invention is seen. The case 10 consists of a plate 12 to which a lid 13 that can be raised and retracted is attached. The case 10 is advantageously made of a plastic material, for example polypropylene. The case and its dimensions can be of any shape. In the illustrated embodiment, the plate and the lid have a rectangular shape, and the lid is attached along a small side of the plate. It goes without saying that the lid can also be attached along a large side of the plate.

FIGS. 1A and 1B show the front and the rear of the case with its lid 13 that is retracted on the top of the plate 12. The lid is attached to the plate by attachment means that define a pivoting axis X-X such that the lid 13 can be raised into a position that is virtually perpendicular to the plate 12 and such that it can be retracted on the top of said plate.

FIGS. 2A and 2B show the case with its raised lid, seen respectively from front and rear. To ensure the stability of the lid 13 in raised position, the rear side of the lid 13, i.e., the side by which the lid is attached to the plate 12, advantageously has a flange 131 that rests on a portion of the rear side of the plate 12 when the lid is in raised position. The case 10 is provided to enclose a foldable structure 14 that is designed to unfold automatically when the lid is brought into its raised position and thus to unfold any decor into the space.

A first portion of the foldable structure 14 is attached to the upper face of the plate 12, and a second portion of the structure 14 is attached to the inside face of the lid 13. In the embodiment that is illustrated, the foldable structure is attached to the plate 12, in a detachable manner, by brackets 16 that are formed on a flange 15 of the plate, and it is attached to the lid 13, in a detachable manner, by brackets 18 that are formed on a flange 17 of the lid, which flange extends in a virtually perpendicular manner to the plane of the lid. When a foldable structure 14 is thus attached to the plate 12 and to the lid 13, it automatically folds on itself when the lid 13 is retracted on the top of the plate 12, automatically folding the elements that comprise the decor, which were deployed in the space, and it is redeployed automatically in the space when the lid 13 is brought into its raised position.

The unfoldable and foldable structure can be made in various ways and with presentations that may vary. It can consist of any unfoldable structure. Advantageously, the unfoldable/foldable structure that is attached in the case consists of a foldable substrate by forming a first portion 14 a and a second portion 14 b, whereby said substrate is pierced by many slots that laterally delimit elements 14 c that have folds that extend between the above-mentioned slots and are placed in a suitable manner for creating a selected decor. The elements 14 c of the unfoldable structure can be deployed in the space by forming one or more planes that are parallel to one or the other of said portions 14 a and 14 b of the substrate. Each unfoldable element in the space can have numerous configurations and can be freely decorated to achieve any desired decor.

FIG. 3 shows an exploded view of the case 10 that is shown in FIG. 2, with an unfoldable structure 14 that is ready to be attached inside the assembled case. On one of its sides, the lid 13 has two elements 132 that are arranged to work with two additional elements 122 that are formed on one side of the plate 12. In the illustrated embodiment, the lid is attached along a small side of the plate. It goes without saying that the lid can also be attached along a large side of the plate. The attachment elements 122 and 132 can be molded with the plate and the lid respectively. The assembly of the corresponding elements 122 and 132 is done by a simple interlocking. In the embodiment that is illustrated by way of example, the elements 122 of the plate interlock with the elements 132 of the lid, but the reverse situation can also be carried out with the elements 132 of the lid interlocking with the elements 122 of the plate.

FIG. 4A is a detail view illustrating on an enlarged scale an example of an arrangement for the device for attaching the lid on the plate. The attachment elements 122 and 132 have rounded profiles 123 and 133 that are adapted to one another so as to allow the lid 13 to pivot between a retracted position on the plate 12 and a raised position that is virtually perpendicular to the plate. As mentioned above, the stability of the lid in raised position is ensured by the rear flange 131 that now comes to rest on or against a portion of the rear flange of the plate 12. Any locking means can be provided on one side of the case, for example the front side, so as to keep the lid in retracted position.

FIG. 4B illustrates a variant embodiment for the device for attaching the lid to the plate. This embodiment differs from that of FIG. 4A in that each element 132 on its rounded profile 133 has a locking element 134 that is arranged to work with an additional locking element 124 that is placed on the rounded profile 123 of the element 122 so as to ensure that the lid is locked when it is in its raised position that is virtually perpendicular to the plate 12. By way of example, the drawing shows a second locking element 125 that is found separated angularly from the first element 124 along the rounded profile 123 of the attachment element 122. This locking element 125 also works with the locking element 134 of the element 132 and allows the lid 13 also to be locked automatically when it is retracted on the plate. The assembly of the elements 122 and 132 is done by simple interlocking and this automatically makes the locking means operational when the lid is brought into one or the other of the above-mentioned positions, i.e., in the typical case, the retracted position and a predetermined raised position. In each of these positions, the lid thus is automatically locked in stable position. It goes without saying that the locking means can be arranged to ensure only one stable raised position of the lid.

In this embodiment, the lid 13 can also have a rear flange 131 that just rests on or against a portion of the rear side of the plate 12 when the lid is in raised position. This flange 131 thus assures a stabilization function for the lid in raised position, in a manner that is complementary to the locking function ensured by the locking elements 124 and 134.

FIGS. 5 to 8 show a second embodiment of the invention. This embodiment differs essentially from the first example that is described above in that the plate 12 is mounted on a basket 11 so as to be able to slide relative to the latter, entraining in its movement the raised lid 13 and the decor attached thereto. FIGS. 5A and 5B show the front and rear of the case with its lid 13 retracted on the top of the plate 12. The lid is attached to the plate so as to be able to be raised into a position that is virtually perpendicular to the plate. The means for attaching the lid are the same here as those that FIGS. 2 and 3 show.

In the illustrated example, the lid 13 is provided with a closing tab 19 that is designed to work with a housing 21 that is arranged on the corresponding flange of the plate 12 and the basket 11. When the lid is retracted on the top of the plate 12, the tab 19 keeps the lid 13 in retracted position and the basket closed. Advantageously, rough spots are formed in the housing so as to perfect the adhesion of the closing tab 19. Rough spots that are thereby used are shown by way of example in FIGS. 6A, 7A and 8B and are identified by the reference symbol 22.

FIGS. 6A and 6B show the case with a raised lid, respectively seen from the front and from the rear. The stability of the lid in its raised position is completed by the support of the rear flange 131 of the lid against the rear side of the plate 12. The decor 14 is attached to the upper surface of the plate 12 by the brackets 16 and to the inside face of the lid 13 by the brackets 18 as in the first embodiment that is described above.

FIGS. 7A and 7B show the case, seen from the front and from the rear, when the plate 12 has been brought into a retracted position by sliding relative to the basket 11. In this position, the plate 12 releases the top of the basket 11 and makes the inside compartment of the latter accessible, whereby said inside compartment can be used as storage space 111 for various objects. To ensure the sliding of the plate 12 relative to the basket 11, two opposite lateral walls 112 of the basket 11 have longitudinal ribs 113 that work with grooves 123 that are formed along the two opposite sides of the plate 12. Stopping means 114 and 124 that are formed at the rear end of the ribs 113 and grooves 123 work with one another so as to stop the travel of the plate 12 when the latter is in its forward position, in which position it blocks the top of the basket 11.

The closing tab 19, which extends so as to attach the retracted lid 13 to the wall of the basket 11, prevents the sliding of the plate 12 and the opening of the basket 11 as the lid 13 is retracted on the top of the plate 12. In this manner, access to the inside space of the basket 11 is possible only when the user has raised the lid 13, which, in so doing, automatically deploys the unfoldable decor as described above.

FIGS. 8A and 8B illustrate a variant execution of the second embodiment described above. In this variant, shown by way of non-limiting example, the lid 13 is attached to a large side of the plate 12. Aside from this arrangement, this method of execution has all the characteristics and all the advantages of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7. 

1-11. (canceled)
 12. Case that comprises a basket, a plate that is attached on the top of the basket so as to be able to slide relative to the latter, a lid that is attached to the plate by attachment means that are arranged to be able to make the lid pivot between a retracted position on the plate and a raised position that is virtually perpendicular to the plate, means that are arranged to assure a stable position to the lid when it is in its raised position, and an unfoldable structure that comprises a first portion that is attached to said plate and a second portion that is attached to the inside of said lid so as to unfold when the lid pivots between its retracted position on the plate and a raised position and to fold when the lid is retracted on the top of the plate.
 13. Case according to claim 12, wherein the plate has the first rectilinear elements that are suitable for working with second rectilinear elements that are provided on the lateral wall of the basket so as to allow the first above-mentioned rectilinear elements to slide longitudinally relative to the second above-mentioned rectilinear elements.
 14. Case according to claim 12, wherein the lid has a means that extends so as to connect the lid to the plate and to the basket and to prevent the plate from sliding relative to the basket when the lid is retracted on the plate.
 15. Case according to claim 12, wherein the plate has two first attachment elements that are profiled in an arch, and the lid has two second attachment elements that are profiled in an arch, whereby each attachment element of the lid works by interlocking with an attachment element of the plate so as to define a pivoting axis for the lid.
 16. Case according to claim 12, wherein the means for assuring a stable raised position to the lid comprise locking elements that are combined with means for attaching the lid to the plate.
 17. Case according to claim 12, wherein the means for attaching the lid comprise locking means that are arranged for locking the lid in several positions relative to the plate.
 18. Case according to claim 12, wherein the plate has a rear flange and the lid, on its rear side, has an outside flange that rests against said rear flange of the plate when the lid is in a raised position that is virtually perpendicular to the plate.
 19. Case according to claim 12, wherein the unfoldable structure consists of a foldable sheet by forming a first portion that is attached to said plate and a second portion that is attached to the inside of said lid, whereby said sheet is pierced by several slots that laterally delimit elements that have folds that extend between the above-mentioned slots and that can be deployed in the space by forming at least one plane that is parallel to at least one of said first and second portions of the foldable sheet.
 20. Case that can accommodate an unfoldable structure, comprising a basket, a plate that is attached to the top of the basket so as to be able to slide, relative to the latter, a lid that is attached to the plate by attachment means that are arranged to be able to pivot the lid between a retracted position on the plate and a raised position that is virtually perpendicular to the plate, whereby means are arranged to assure a stable position to the lid when it is in its raised position, whereby the plate has attachment brackets for holding a first portion of an unfoldable structure and the lid has attachment brackets for holding a second portion of the unfoldable structure.
 21. Case that can accommodate an unfoldable structure, comprising a plate, a lid that is attached to the plate to be able to pivot between a retracted position on the plate and a raised position that is virtually perpendicular to the plate, whereby the plate has two first attachment elements that are profiled in an arc and whereby the lid has two second attachment elements that are profiled in an arch, whereby each attachment element of the lid works by interlocking with an attachment element of the plate so as to define a pivoting axis for the lid, whereby the plate has a rear flange and the lid, on its rear side, has an outside flange that rests against said rear flange of the plate when the cover is in a raised position that is virtually perpendicular to the plate, and whereby the plate has attachment brackets for holding a first portion of a foldable structure and whereby the lid has attachment brackets for holding a second portion of the foldable structure. 